Hello, all. I am not a veteran yet, but, due to a personal matter, will become one within the next year. My question is two-pronged: How relevant is age when trying to land an interview/job, and what can I be doing now to increase my “hireability” in the intervening months between now and separation?
Background: I have close to ten years active duty as an intelligence officer in the USAF, an MBA from a reputable school (Penn State, but online), and PMP certification. Is there anything else in terms of certification that I could do to increase my marketability? And about that age (almost 40 years old): Is this a significant hurdle to overcome in today's job market?
Thank you for any and all help.
Answers
J.B.,
First of all, thank you for your service to our country. As to your. question, any additional certifications will be relevant only in that they support your skills and knowledge for the position you are seeking. My question is this: what skills and abilities has your current level of education, your certification and your experience qualify you for?
The key to answering that question is to do a complete inventory of your experience and translate that into language that the business world understands. That will be the hardest part, as it is much easier to quantify what you received from the MBA and PMP. Once you have an inventory of your experience, skills and knowledge, you can begin exploring the business world for work that fits your inventory. For example, you can search job listings based on your inventory and see where they meet. You can network with people in industries you are interested in to see what they think of your inventory.
I can recommend a couple of books to help you, What Color is Your Parachute has a series of exercises that will really help you develop your inventory and research industries. Pathways Through Transition, Winning the Job Race will help you turn your inventory into a resume. I have used both.
Finally, don't worry about age. I war 49 when I became PMP certified and 55 when I finished my MBA!
Best of luck in your transition,
Kevin Callahan
Thank you for your service, J. B.
You have great credentials and skills. But I agree with the previous comments that you should evaluate your skills and determine what you want to do with them.
Regarding the age issue, 40 is the sweet spot in my opinion. You are at a good age to begin a new position. For longevity, you may want to look at AARP to see what are the best companies for those over 50. That will also give you an idea about the culture and maybe even some of the benefits.
Besy of luck!
J.B.-
Thank you for your service.
I agree with much of what has been posted already.
I would add that for someone with vast and varied experience, it will be important for you to look at job listings and tailor your resume to the skill sets that match the posting rather than having a stock resume.
Were I in your shoes, I'd consider framing a resume such that you communicate relevant skills in a brief profile first, then list supporting examples of those skills/experiences.
For example, the PMP can be a great asset. If you're applying for a position as a project manager, include examples of your PMP expertise and experience that directly relate to the position. Not knowing what kind of projects you've been involved in to do date, it's hard to give a specific example. But you can certainly pull out examples from your military experience that would be applicable to a civilian project.
Another thought...have you considered the Foreign Service? Additional consideration is given to veterans.
J.B.,
I agree with Kevin, you will know what matters when you identify the transferable skills that you have/want to use, and what you want to do; this is what will make you competitive.
Regarding your age, it's more about what you are doing, how you are using and developing skills. Are you a continual learner and producer?
Best,
Susana
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